Day 01: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Upon arrival at Colombo International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in and overnight. Colombo, the island's largest city, is noisy, frenetic - and just a little crazy. Thankfully, the breakdowns, snarled traffic and power cuts are received with a shrug and a smile. While the city holds less obvious interest than many other parts of the island, it's still colorful and worth a look. The Hotel Galadari is situated in the heart of Colombo's business district overlooking the Indian Ocean, adjacent to the office of the President. Hotel GaladariDay 02: Colombo - Dambulla
After breakfast depart for Dambulla (150kms – 4 hours) en route visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela. Among the green hills of Kegalle, about 50 miles (85km) from Colombo on the road to Kandy in the hill country, a herd of about 75 elephants roam free in the Pinnewela Elephant Orphanage. This popular attraction, established as a sanctuary covering 25 acres of lush forest by the Sri Lankan Government in 1975, is unique. Its purpose is to feed, nurse and house young elephants lost or abandoned by their mothers. Continue to Dambulla for hotel check-in. Evening climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya, built by the controversial king, Kasyapa, sought to convert a huge boulder rock into a castle amidst a walled and moated city. In a sheltered pocket on the western face of the Sigiriya rock, approached by a spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes. On the western and northern sides of the steep rock, runs a gallery. Shielding this gallery is a 91/2 ft. plaster wall in which one can see one's reflection (Mirror Wall.) Return to your hotel for overnight. The first hotel in Asia to get Green Globe certification, this Aitken Spence hotel overlooks the Kandalama irrigation lake and close to UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Dambulla and Sigiriya. Hotel Kandalama (B)Day 03: Dambulla - Kandy
After breakfast leave for Kandy (72kms - 3 hours) en route, enjoy a visit to Dambulla Rock/Cave Temple and a spice garden in Matale. Arrive Kandy in the afternoon & check-in at Hotel Mahaweli Reach. The ahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy is located near to the Mahaweli River, on the outskirts of Kandy City, just 20 minutes drive away. The large rooms are comfortable with warm pastel colors. The large pool and beautiful Mahaweli River running nearby helps create a tranquil atmosphere. The laidback 'capital' of the hill country, and the historical bastion of Buddhist power, is built around a peaceful lake and set in a picturesque bowl of hills. It has a distinctive architectural character and the town center is a delightful compendium of old shops, buses, markets and hotels. Its standout attraction is the octagonal Dalada Maligawa, a temple which houses Sri Lanka's most important religious relic - the sacred tooth of Buddha. There are daily ceremonies of homage to the Tooth Relic, each attracting white-clad pilgrims carrying lotus blossoms and frangipani. Evening sightseeing tour of Kandy including the visit to the Kandy Temple and cultural show. Mahaweli Reach Hotel (B)Day 04: Kandy - Colombo
Morning tour of Kandy including a visit to Paradeniya Botanical Gardens.
Situated in the Hill capital Kandy. This visit to this garden will provide spectacles at extraordinary beauty and absorbing interest for any nature lover and casual visitor. 68 miles off-Colombo, 4 miles off Kandy this garden dates from 14th century reign of king Vikrama Bahu III. Peradeniya is well know for it's large variety of plants ornaments, useful machine and other creepers that produce the special spices at Sri Lanka. The great lawns highlight huge tropical trees and variety at bamboo can be found in one place. Return to Colombo this afternoon (115kms - 3 hours) for overnight. Hotel Galadari (B)Day 05: Colombo - Depart
Morning sightseeing tour of Colombo. Among the many places of interest in the City are the Fort, the Old Parliament House, Buddhist temples, Old Churches, Hindu temples, Mosques, the National Museum, Independence Hall, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall and the Zoological Gardens. On time transfer to airport for flight to onward destination. (B)
